One Person’s Grievance Destroys A Message

....Those raising concerns about ICE and CoreCivic had legitimate reasons for raising awareness of an issue they feel passionate about. Unfortunately, one person overshadowed their message. He became the topic of conversation in the VFW and among people at the fair. This one person stole the show. He soured people to the sincere message of the others surrounding him.
It did it by standing among them with a sign using profanity – “F” ICE. He painted all those standing around him, those with the hope of reaching out and changing minds, of motivating action to curb ICE activities and investigate CoreCivic, with the same level of self-absorbed character. 
His sign did not communicate; it alienated. It did not create sympathy; it created hostility toward the group. 
One person’s grievance stepped on the message everyone else was trying to impart. People who may have been persuaded were turned off. People who may have been sympathetic were offended, closing the door to gaining their support. People on their side ended up apologizing to others for his behavior rather than trying to nurture the arguments of their cause. One person hijacked the day and became the protest’s lasting memory....

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